What are the health benefits of spirulina? Packed with nutrients Has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties Flushes out toxins Boosts immune health
Full Answer
What is spirulina good for?
There are two species of the spirulina plant, including Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are cultivated worldwide and used both as a dietary supplement (in tablet, flake and powder form) and even whole food — and even for livestock and fish feed. So what is spirulina good for?
What is Spirulina algae?
Spirulina is a blue-green algae from the genus Arthrospira ("arthro" roughly meaning "joint," and "spira" meaning "spiral"). It's been used by the Aztecs in Mexico and by people living in the Lake Chad area for centuries. 1 Spirulina's usually cultivated from bodies of water like lakes or farmed in ponds.
Can spirulina cause digestive problems?
Taking even large amounts of spirulina is unlike to cause serious harm, but it may result in digestive issues like nausea, diarrhea, bloating and cramps. Therefore, it’s best to start with a lower dosage and slowly work your way up to assess your tolerance.
What is spirulina and what does it taste like?
What Is Spirulina? Spirulina is a type of blue-green microalgae that is able to grow in both fresh and salt water and is consumed by humans and other animals. There are two species of the spirulina plant, including Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima.
What is spirulina used for?
Spirulina is rich in a range of vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, like vitamins E, C, and B6. Research finds that spirulina also boosts the production of white blood cells and antibodies that fight viruses and bacteria in your body.
Is it good to take spirulina everyday?
Some minor side effects of spirulina may include nausea, insomnia, and headaches. Still, this supplement is widely considered safe, and most people experience no side effects (2). Spirulina may be contaminated with harmful compounds, thin your blood, and worsen autoimmune conditions.
What are the dangers of spirulina?
But Spirulina may become contaminated with toxic metals, harmful bacteria and microcystins — toxins produced from some algae —if it is grown in unsafe conditions. Contaminated Spirulina can cause liver damage, nausea, vomiting, thirst, weakness, rapid heartbeat, shock and even death.
When should I take spirulina morning or night?
Because high-protein foods have been found to increase alertness – and Spirulina is the richest whole food source of protein – it is best to take Spirulina at least four hours before going to bed.
Can I take spirulina on empty stomach?
Should spirulina be taken on an empty stomach? No, you don't necessarily need to take spirulina on an empty stomach. However, if you decide to do so, you can take the supplement in the morning and wait 15-20 minutes before taking any solid food so that your body can absorb the nutrients.
Can spirulina cause weight gain?
Spirulina Calories and Nutrition It takes an extra 3,500 calories over and above your daily needs to gain a pound. A tablespoon of dried spirulina, which is how you're most likely to find it sold, contains only 20 calories, so it would take quite a bit of spirulina to cause weight gain.
Can I take spirulina and vitamin C together?
Tests revealed that when combined with vitamin C, spirulina also prevented elevated levels of liver enzymes, a signal of cell death. The levels of two liver damage enzymes, ALT and AST, were reduced in mice that had been given spirulina and vitamin C.
Is spirulina a multivitamin?
Spirulina supplements will not contain as many different vitamins and minerals as most multivitamins, and they aren't formulated to have an optimal amount of each vitamin and mineral so they may not consistently contain the same amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Can spirulina cause liver damage?
Spirulina has been implicated in isolated case reports in causing clinically apparent liver injury, but the role of spirulina as opposed to other herbal components or contaminants has not been shown. Liver injury due to spirulina must be very rare if it occurs at all.
How long does it take for spirulina to start working?
It takes about 1-3 weeks for you to notice a change in energy levels. The results differ from person to person and obviously depend on your condition. Tip; drink plenty of water every day. Most people around normally ask, where can spirulina be found?
Is spirulina good for sleep?
Our results revealed that spirulina supplementation significantly reduced sleep disturbances (P = . 03), while no significant changes occurred in the sleep quality score or other sleep parameters, vs the placebo group (P > . 05). Furthermore, a significant reduction in stress score (P = .
What are the benefits of drinking spirulina?
10 Health Benefits of SpirulinaSpirulina Is Extremely High in Many Nutrients. ... Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties. ... Can Lower “Bad” LDL and Triglyceride Levels. ... Protects “Bad” LDL Cholesterol From Oxidation. ... May Have Anti-Cancer Properties. ... May Reduce Blood Pressure. ... Improves Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis.More items...•
What does spirulina do to the body?
Evidence suggests spirulina has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering properties. It may help treat or manage con...
How does spirulina affect weight?
Research suggests spirulina can help reduce body fat, waist circumference, BMI, and appetite, which could make it useful as part of a weight-manage...
Is spirulina safe?
A person should always buy from a reputable source, check it has undergone testing, and follow the instructions on the label. It may not be safe du...
What is a spirulina plant?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green microalgae that is able to grow in both fresh and salt water and is consumed by humans and other animals. There are two species of the spirulina plant, including Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima.
Which is healthier, chlorella or spirulina?
Finally, although both are considered superfoods, spirulina and chlorella differ in their nutritional content. Arguably the healthier of the two, spirulina contains more essential amino acids, iron, protein, B vitamins, and vitamins C, D and E.
What is the difference between chlorella and spirulina?
Spirulina grows best in low-alkaline conditions — particularly, fresh water lakes, ponds and rivers. It also requires an abundance of sunshine and moderate temperatures. Chlorella, on the other hand, grows in fresh water typically occupied by other organisms, which makes it more challenging to harvest. 3.
How much spirulina should I take daily?
A common question when first trying out this incredible ingredient is: how much spirulina should I take daily? Although there’s no standard spirulina dosage, most studies have found a beneficial effect when consuming 1–8 grams per day. For reference, one tablespoon of blue spirulina is about 7 grams.
How long do rabbits need spirulina?
A recent animal study published in The Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology took rabbits, fed them a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) containing 0.5 percent cholesterol for four weeks, and then fed them a HCD with 1 percent or 5 percent spirulina for an additional eight weeks.
What is the shape of a spirulina?
Shape. First of all, spirulina is a spiral-shaped, multi-celled plant with no true nucleus. It’s blue-green in hue and can grow up to 100 times the size of chlorella. Comparably, chlorella is a spherical-shaped single-celled microorganism with a nucleus and is solid green. 2. How It’s Grown.
Where is spirulina grown?
Grown around the world from Mexico to Africa to even Hawaii, spirulina is renowned for its intense flavor and even more powerful nutrition profile.
Why is spirulina digested easily?
3. Improving gut health. Spirulina can be digested easily because of its structure where the cells do not have tough, fibrous walls.
How much sodium is in spirulina?
73 mg of sodium. 0.7 mg of vitamin C. It also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamins B-6, A, and K. Taking spirulina, as part of a balanced diet, may help a person to stay well nourished. 2.
How long does it take for spirulina to lower cholesterol?
Researchers found that taking 1 g of spirulina every day reduced participant’s total cholesterol after 3 months. 6. Reducing blood pressure. As discussed above, spirulina may lower cholesterol, and there is also evidence that it could help control a person’s blood pressure.
Does spirulina help with cholesterol?
Studies suggest that spirulina supplements can reduce total cholesterol. Taking spirulina extract may help to lower cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is an unhealthful fat in a person’s blood that medical experts link to heart disease. A 2016 systematic review and meta-analysis.
Is spirulina a superfood?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that people can take as a dietary supplement. People consider spirulina a superfood due to its excellent nutritional content and health benefits. Spirulina has a high protein and vitamin content, which makes it an excellent dietary supplement for people on vegetarian or vegan diets.
Does spirulina help with heart disease?
High blood pressure and cholesterol levels are both linked to heart disease. As spirulina may reduce both of these risk factors, is it possible that it could help prevent heart disease?
Is spirulina poisonous to humans?
In certain parts of the world, people are at risk of poisoning from contaminated drinking water and other sources of pollutants. Early research#N#Trusted Source#N#suggests that spirulina may offer a way to treat those affected.
What is spirulina good for?
Spirulina is rich in a range of vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining a healthy immune system , like vitamins E, C, and B6. Research finds that spirulina also boosts the production of white blood cells and antibodies that fight viruses and bacteria in your body.
What is the taste of spirulina?
Spirulina has a bitter taste, so people often mix it with yogurts, juices, and smoothies to improve its flavor. Spirulina is commonly available as a supplement at health food stores.
Does spirulina help with triglycerides?
These are fats in your blood that can contribute to the hardening of arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and pancreatitis . Spirulina increases nitric oxide production in your body as well, which helps your blood vessels relax.
Does spirulina cause cancer?
Chronic inflammation contributes to cancer and other diseases. Phycocyanin — the a plant pigment that gives spirulina its blue-green color — has been found to not only reduce inflammation in the body, but also block tumor growth and kill cancer cells.
Is spirulina a plant based protein?
Spirulina is a potent source of nutrients. It contains a powerful plant-based protein called phycocyanin. Research shows this may have antioxidant, pain-relief, anti-inflammatory, and brain-protective properties. This antioxidant and other nutrients in spirulina are linked with several health benefits:
Does spirulina help with cholesterol?
Heart Health. Research has found that the protein in spirulina can reduce the body’s absorption of cholesterol, lowering cholesterol levels. This helps keep your arteries clear, reducing strain on your heart that can lead to heart disease and stroke -causing blo od clots . Its protein also reduces triglyceride levels.
Can you take spirulina with diabetes?
Medication Interactions. Spirulina’s health benefits may interact with or counter certain medications' effects, including those used to treat diabetes, immunosuppressants, and blood thinners. B12 deficiency.
Does spirulina help with cancer?
Whether or not spirulina can protect against cancer in humans is still very much untested however, it contains plenty of good antioxidants. A number of in vitro and animal studies have suggested that spirulina has the potential to boost immunity and increase the production of infection fighting proteins and antibodies. These actions may help the body ward off chronic illnesses like cancer and other infections.
Does spirulina help with weight loss?
Spirulina is a rich source of proteins and diets which are high in proteins and nutrients like spirulina can help stimulate weight loss and reduce body fat. Protein requires more energy in order to metabolize and helps maintain the body’s lean tissue which also contributes to the way fat is burned.
Does spirulina help with blood pressure?
As well as reducing your cholesterol levels, spirulina can also help keep blood pressure under control. According to research done in Japan, pigment found in spirulina called phycocyanin has antihypertensive properties. (7)